Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1530

Chapter 1530: Pressure

’This is...’

Atticus watched the scene unfolding before him with a clenched fist. He knew, he knew, that the children weren’t real. The Great Verge had created them, they were nothing more than constructs meant to pass as citizens.

But the trembling eyes were real enough. The way their tiny bodies shook. The sight of small heads rolling across the ground. The hollow, bloodshot stares of the soldiers forced to watch it all happen.

He had never hated a situation so hard.

As blood soaked into the earth, another group of children was dragged forward and forced to their knees.

"Now where were we?" the man said lightly, smiling as though he were out for a stroll.

"Ah, yes. Lay down your arms and join our mighty army. Do that... and I’ll spare these innocent souls."

Blades pressed against small throats once more.

’This is it.’

The full scope of it finally settled in.

They weren’t just attacking morale. They were breaking minds.

Atticus caught every detail, the horrified expressions, the trembling hands, the tears silently falling. No one who witnessed this would ever walk away unchanged.

"Don’t listen to him. It’s a trap."

His voice carried across the battlefield, but one answered.

Atticus furrowed his brows.

’Don’t tell me...’

He shifted his focus to the fortress and found the general almost immediately. Feranal was already moving toward the outer gates.

"Feranal," Atticus said sharply. "Stop."

The man hesitated, but only for a second before he continued moving.

"Don’t be stupid," Atticus continued. "I understand what you’re feeling. I do. And I swear to you, they will pay for this. Every last one of them. But if you give in now, it only gets worse. They won’t spare anyone once they win."

"L-lord..."

Atticus let out a slow breath when the man finally stopped. The battlefield had gone eerily silent, every gaze locked on the two of them, breaths held.

"I... I know," the general said hoarsely. "I know they might kill everyone if they win. I know trusting them is a mistake." He clenched his fists. "But... one of those children is my son. I can’t stand here and watch him die."

Atticus’ frown deepened.

"Don’t do this."

"I-I’m sorry, Lord," the general said, lowering his head. "Punish me however you wish. I’ll accept it. But I can’t watch my boy die."

"Stop," Atticus said sharply. "I order you to stop."

But the general kept walking.

"Wait!" the general suddenly roared.

The abyss champion’s arm halted mid drop.

"Hm?"

"Open the gates!" the general commanded.

"This is the order of your lord. Stand down. Now."

The soldiers didn’t move at Atticus’s order. Instead, their resolute eyes remained fixed on the general. One by one, they nodded.

The gates creaked open, and the general stepped through alone.

"Don’t kill them," he said, raising his arm. "We accept your terms."

"Ah... good. Very good," the abyss champion replied, smiling. He gestured lazily toward the fortress. "Have them disarm. All of them. On the ground."

The general swallowed, turned, and gave the order.

The sound of metal striking stone echoed across the battlefield as weapons fell, followed by soldiers lowering themselves to the ground.

"We’ve done what you asked," the general said. "Now release them."

The abyss champion only smiled and flicked his hand forward.

"Bind them."

The abyss soldiers moved immediately. In moments, every soldier was restrained, including the general. His expression hardened as the children remained kneeling, blades still at their throats.

"This wasn’t the bargain," he growled. "You promised they would be spared. You said we could join your army."

"Hm?" The champion tilted his head, then laughed softly. "Did I?"

He leaned closer, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I think you said it best yourself. Trusting us is a mistake." His smile widened. "The abyss army doesn’t need trash."

"Y-you bastard!" the general roared. "You won’t get away with this!"

"We always do," the champion said casually. "Kill them."

The abyss soldiers drew their blades and surged forward.

’Do it now.’

A blinding light washed over the fortress, forcing soldiers to cry out and shield their eyes.

"What is this?!" the champion roared as shouts rippled through the abyss ranks.

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